TOWN OF LA GRANGE In the last half of the 17th century, an acorn sprouted and stood its ground among the ponds and glacial hills of what is known today as the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Century after century, the slow-growing oak with a deep root system survived contrary winds, lightning and the ax. John Zinzow came upon the old matriarch of the woods while hiking and running along the Nordic Trail in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine a decade ago. A thick growth of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle surrounded the treeâs huge trunk and hid its grandeur.